The Rowell Award for the Art of Adventure

The Rowell Award for the Art of Adventure honors that adventurer whose artistic passion illuminates the wild places of the world, and whose accomplishments significantly benefit both the environment and the peoples who inhabit these lands and regions.

The 2012 Rowell Award nomination period is open from August 1, 2012 to December 1, 2012. If you know an individual that would make a great Rowell Award candidate, please review the nomination form below. The award will be presented at the 2013 AAC Annual Benefit Dinner in San Francisco, Saturday, Febuary 23.

You can download the 2012 nomination form* in Microsoft Word or PDF format or email us for an application (*Please note the deadline has been extended until December 1, 2012). In your request, please include your full name, address, email address, phone number, and how you heard about the Rowell Award. All nominations should be submitted electronically to grants@americanalpineclub.org.

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Hans Saari Memorial Fund Exploration Grant
This grant supports innovative ski mountaineering expeditions with technical goals in alpine terrain. While trips do not need to be at the leading edge of alpinism, special consideration will be given to applicants visiting unclimbed, unexplored regions, and those with historically significant objectives. Grant recipients must document and report on both technical and cultural aspects of expeditions, with the goal of creating an understanding and appreciation of the area and culture. The Fund will award up to three grants per year. Deadline is March 1 annually, and more information is available here.
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Nick Estcourt Award
Although this award is aimed at British climbers, it could provide a great opportunity for an Anglo-American expedition. At least half the team needs to be British to qualify. Named for the great climber who died on K2 in 1978, the Nick Estcourt Award was established to commemorate his climbing achievements and to encourage future generations of expedition mountaineers. One annual award of $2,000 is provided to the team that the trustees consider most likely to further expedition mountaineering; applications are considered solely in terms of their mountaineering merit, and scientific and other objectives are not taken into account. Awards will not be made to expeditions with a significant commercial or military element. Deadline is December 31, and more information is available here.

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Polartec Challenge Grants
Every year world-class athletes benefit from the Polartec® Challenge, an international award program encouraging the spirit and practice of outdoor adventure. From the sharp granite cliffs of Southern Africa to heights of the Himalayas, these men and women are dedicated to the pursuit of excitement and discovery. Read their accounts of these incredible once-in-a-lifetime experiences and how Polartec® helped them achieve their dreams of realizing them. Visit the Polartec website for more details.

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Mugs Stump Climbing Award

From October 1, 2011 through December 15, 2011, the 2010 Mugs Stump Award will be accepting grant applications from small climbing teams with fast and light alpine objectives. Established in 1993 to honor the late alpinist Mugs Stump, the Mugs Stump Award annually awards grants to a select number of individuals and teams whose proposed climbs present an outstanding challenge—a first ascent, significant repeat, or first alpine-style ascent—with special emphasis placed on climbers leaving no trace of their passage. Sponsored by Alpinist Magazine, Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd., Mountain Gear, Patagonia, Inc., and W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc., the Mugs Stump Award once again encourages men, women and teams from North America to submit their applications for a part of this year’s $25,000 in grant funding. More information about the award and past recipients can be found here.

Further information and applications are available at www.mugsstumpaward.com. Climbs taking place between February 1, 2010 and March 1, 2011 are eligible. We encourage you to submit electronic applications via email or mail 12 copies of your application to Kristo Torgersen, Patagonia, 259 W. Santa Clara St., Ventura, CA 93001.

Awards will be announced by January 31, 2010.

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